Massaging and invigorating device



Oct. 14, 1941. F. c. HEER ETAL MASSAGING AND INVIGORATING DEVICE FiledMay 2a, 1940 Francis CZHeer Lou/s Liebfl 57.",

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 T UNITED sTA'r-Es or Pic E.

MASSAGING'ANDIINVIGORATING'DEVICE: r v Francis C. Beer and LouisLiebl,1Sr1, Lindenhurst, i" .I

Application May 28, 1940, Serial No. 3 ,7 ,5 f 3Clai ms. (C1.

This invention relates to a device for massaging the body so as toreduce excess fat and stimulate circulation of the blood.

It is aimed to provide such a device in the form of a rotatingmeans'simulating a wheel equipped with elements independently rotatableor movable thereon for direct contact with the skin and which elementsare variously spaced with respect to the axis of rotation of said meansso as to travel in a multiplicity of different paths for maximummassaging and stimulating action and effect on the body. I

Another object is to provide a novel assembly attaining the endsmentioned which includes a ball bearing structure for the rotating meansmounted by a coacting and protecting shield adapted to be held steady.

Various additional objects and advantages will inpartbe pointed out andotherwise become apparent from a consideration of the descriptionfollowing taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustratingone operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a View of the device in plan;

Figure 2 is a diametric section taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Figurel, and each of Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is an elevation of a differentform of rotatable element which may be used.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts throughout the different views, arotatable hub is provided at [0. Such hub may be driven in any suitablemanner as by means of a flexible shaft coupled to a screw-threadedsocket ll thereof or by means of a solid shaft attached to said socketII, the flexible shaft or solid shaft being driven by an electric motoror otherwise under appropriate control.

Radiating from and fixed to the hub I0, in any suitable manner, as insockets l2 peripherally thereof are rods [3, preferably equidistantlyspaced, which rods at their outer ends, are fastened in sockets M of anannular ring l concentric with the hub l0.

Elements 5 are carried by the rods I3 and adapted for direct engagementwith the skin to impart a massaging and stimulating effect on the body.These elements l6 may be of any desired material and shape, forinstance, being of elastic rubber, metal, synthetic resin, solid orhollow, spherical, ellipsoidal or otherwise. The skin engaging surfacesof the elements [6 may be variously shaped to enhanc the massaging andstimulating action. As shown in Figures 1 '7, they may have roundedprojections 2|. said Figures 3, 4', 5, 6 and 7, the elements, equivalenttothose at 16, are respectively designated 16a, I61), I60, 'lBd'and lBe.r

and 2, such skin engaging surfaces may be smooth; as shown in Figure3,-=they may have a rib -'l1 as shown in Figure 4, theymay havedepressions l8; as shown inFigure- 5, they may have a network oforintersecting ribs H); as shown 'in-Figure 6, they-may have"approximately pyramidal-projections 20, and as shownin Figure InEach-of'the elements l6, I611, I613, [60, Mid and [66 has adiametric-opening or recess 22 whereby -it is loosely and rotatablystrung upon the adjacent rods l3.

Attention is called to the fact that as shown in Figures 1 and'2 by theelements 16, that the massaging elements -are ,variouslyspaced with ingthe skin, to attain the maximum massaging and stimulating effect. To theend stated, spacing sleeves 23, of various lengths, are loosely androtatably mounted upon the rods or spokes l3. It will be noted that theelements l6 and sleeves 23, in addition to being rotatable on the rodsI3, have limited sliding movement thereon to avoid binding action of anyof the parts.

At the driven side of the device, a protector or shield 24 is providedwhich is preferably metallic and has a marginal rim 25 terminatingrelatively close to and surrounding the ring I5.

A bearing structure is provided preferably in the nature of a ballbearing having an inner race member 26 and an outer race member 21adapted to be grasped by and held steady in the hand. Balls 28 aredisposed between the race members and in addition to their anti-frictionfunction, serve to inseparably connect said race members.

Inner race member 26 is swaged on to the hub II] or in any othersuitable manner rigidly attached thereto. The outer race member 21 isrotatable relative to the inner race member and is rigidly fastened-in arecess 29 of a mounting 30 having a port 3| through and beyond which thehub l0 extends.

Said mounting 30 is cut away peripherally and at one face as at 32forming a seat which is engaged bythe guard 24 and to which seat suchguard is welded or in any other manner, rigidly attached. Said mounting30 is also cut away annularly at 33 to provide a seat to which a shieldring 34 is welded or rigidly connected and which ring has a centralopening 35 through which the hub l passes.

In the use of the device, it will be understood that it is manually heldby means of the mounting 30 and that the hub I0 is positively driven soas to rotate the same, the rods l3, balls l6 and sleeves 23 as a unitand relatively to the shield 24. At the same time, the traction of theelement I6 with the skin, will impart an independent rotation ormovement thereto, whereby the body or skin Will be efficiently massagedand stimulated. It is clear that the balls l6 may be replaced, ifdesired, by a set entirely like those of Figure 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, or, ifpreferred, the balls 16 may be replaced by ones of various shapes, beingone or more of each of the shapes shown in Figures 3 to 7, with orwithout one or more balls like IS with plain surfaces,

Various changes may be resorted toiprovided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: V I q 1. A device of the class described having ashield, a rotatable hub passing throu h the shield and projecting onopposite sides thereof and adapted for attachment at one side thereof toa driving means mounted independently of the shield, an exposed mountingmember on saidone side carrying said shield and of a size to be manuallygripped to hold the devicesteady, said -hub passing through saidmounting member, an antifriction bearing means between ;the ;hub andmounting member functioning to unitarily conmeet the hub and mountingmember together, said anti-friction bearing means including a racemember surrounding and rigid'with said hub and a race member of greaterdiameter than the ,first race member enclosing and inseparable from thefirst race member and rigid .with the mounting member, rods radiatingfrom the ,hub at the other side of the shield, and skin-contactingelements journaled on said rods.

2. A device of the class described having an exposed mounting member ofcup shape, a relatively short rotatable hub having an end portionjournaled centrally of the mounting member and adapted at said endportion for attachment to a driving means mounted independently of thedevice, an anti-friction bearing mean located within said mountingmember and consisting of inseparable race members rigid respectivelywith the mounting member and hub, one of the race members being ofgreater diameter than and enclosing the other race member, rods mountedby the hub and radiating therefrom at the end portion thereof oppositeto said mounting member, and skin-contacting elements jourinaled on saidrods.

3. A device of the class described having an exposed mounting member ofcup shape, a relatively short rotatable hub having a reduced end portionjournaled centrally of the mounting member and adapted at said endportion for attachment to a driving means mounted independently of thedevice, an anti-friction bearing means located within said mountingmember and consisting of inseparable race members rigid respectivelywith the mounting member and reduced portion of the hub, one of the racemembers bein of greater diameter than and enclosing the other racemember, said hub having an enlarged end portion, rods interfitted insaid enlarged end portion and radiating therefrom, a ring with which theouter ends of the rods are interfitted, spacers and skin-contactingelements rotatable and slidable on said rods, said mounting member atthe inner side having inner and outer seats, and shields secured in saidseats. FRANCIS C. HEER. LOUIS LIEBL, Sm,

